You know we're each the hero of our own story and we perceive what's going on around us and especially in a relationship from the kind of viewpoint of 'Well this is my story and I'm the hero of that and I justify what I do around it.'
Americans are cool if you show just a chink of vulnerability they respond so much. They'll pat you on the arm and say 'Hey kid you're all right.' Brits will respond but they are much more cynical.